The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-11-19
ALL NIGHT ON A MOUNTAIN.

You may talk as you please about
camping out and all that sort of things,
but I shall never forget the first night I
spent out of DOORS It was one summer
several years ago, and we were staying
up in the mountains. In the same house
with us were two other boys, Charley Hus-
ton and Will Campbell, and it wasn't long
before we were pretty good friends. and
together we explored the whole neigh
borhood.
Well, one day we started on a long
walk We went down our mountain (the
one the hotel is on) to the river; here
there is little ferryboat that crosses the
river four times a day, once over and
back in the morning, and again in the
afternoon. We got in and went across,
and proceeded to climb the mountain
opposite ours.
Neither Will nor I had ever been there
before, SO everything was strange and
new to us. But Charley knew all about
it, as he had spent the previous summer
in the same place, and had often walked
over with his father. So of course he
was guide; but as far as that goes, he al
ways was guide, for he was a little older,
q good deal quieter, and great deal
wiser than either Will or I. He had a
funny, quiet way about him that seemed
to say, "Pm going to boss this thing" and
no matter how much fellow might rebel
against it, he was just as firm as a rock
Will and had gotten used to it by this
time, and didn't mind it, so that this day,
when he said, We'll take this path" we
did not say anything, but simply follow
ed.
About midday we came upon q certain
stream where he said we were to eat our
dinner. wonder why it is that sand
witches, or even dry bread, no matter how
stale, will taste SO good in the Woods,
while at home we would turn up our
noses at such poor fare. I do not remem-
Der ever having eaten any dinner with a
better appetite than did that day, al
though our bread had fallen into small
mountain creek we had crossed, and was
soggy and very heavy.
After dinner we started to come home
again, but by different route from the
one we had previously taken; indeed, as
well as remember, we went around the
mountain instead OF over it. 1t was long.
or but much pleasanter, as there was not
SO much uphill work about it.
1t was about four o'clock when Charley,
who was ahead, called our attention to a
birds nest overhead.
"What kind is it, Charley?" I asked,
for, having lived in the city all my life, I
did not know one birds nest from an
other.
sits wood thrush's," ne answered,
"one of the finest singers we have"
"Oh, my" said, do you suppose there
are any eggs?"
mot now, it's too late, but guess there
are young birds; yes, there must be, for
here comes the mother with something in
her mouth"
We watched the pretty brown creature
as she fed her little ones, with a great
deal of interest, until Charley said
"Come fellows, or we'll miss the boat;
it's getting late"
mo, sir" said, "I'm going to have a
look at these birds first. Come on, Will,
give us a boost, will your" and began
to shin up the tree.
"Well, look at them, then, but hurry
up" said Charley, and I'll wait down
here for YOU"
So Will and 1 climbed up into the
branches and gazed with awe into our
first birds nest.
"Why, amt they ugly" said Will, and
he was right, too, for it almost fright
ened me when looked down their great
gaping mouths.
81 say, Will, said I, 81 wonder how it
would do for us each to take one and
raise it in eager"
"Let's," said Will, "for you know Char
ley said they made splendid singers"
No sooner said than done, we imme-
diately transferred two miserable babies
from their nest into a pocket handker-
chief. Then we told Charley what we
were about, but instead of being pleased
he was very angry.
"You wouldn't do such thing, would
you? Let the poor little things alone"
But we insisted, and debated as to
whether we should take third, in case
one should die.
allow can you be so cruel, Ned?" he
called from below. didn't think it was
in you. Put those birds into the nest
this minute and come down here"
81 wont'tp shouted back. 'Tm 60
ing to take one home to my sister, her
canary died last winter"
He got very angry, and after scolding
good deal, went off and left US, saying
he wasn't going to miss the boat if we
were.
We had no fear of missing the boat,
but by the time we slid down the tree
with our treasures, Charley was nowhere
in sight.
The path, if it could be called a path,
was longer and rougher than we suppos-
ed, aud we had to walk slowly, so as not
to joggle our birds, so by the time we got